Many musicians will work their whole lives before having the kind of musical “big break” that Izzy Taylor got. The self-described “folk and roll” artist takes inspiration from “powerful chick musicians” like Brandi Carlisle, Stevie Nicks, Patti Griffin, Holly Williams, and a long list that she’ll gladly rattle off if you ask her to. While working with horses in Hagerman in late 2013, Izzy struck up a conversation with horse owner Jonny B, a musician who used to open for Garth Brooks. Naturally, the two started playing guitars and when he heard Izzy’s sound, he was so enthralled that he immediately called his old producer in Nashville, AJ Masters. Fast-forward three weeks later and Izzy was bound for Nashville where she worked for a solid week on her album, doing pre-production in Phil Everly’s office and then moving over to County Q Studios where musicians AJ Masters, JT Corenflos, Mark Prentice, Paul Scholten, and Wanda Vick as well as Idahoan and sound mixer Rob Matson helped to contribute to the Idaho sound Izzy was going for, specifically the sound of sitting around a campfire with friends playing music. Says Izzy of the experience, “It’s something I’ve dreamed about doing since I was a kid so it was super emotional. It still doesn’t feel real because I was working with some of the best studio musicians in the country and it’s nuts, it’s totally nuts. It’s maybe the luckiest opportunity I’ll ever get.”
The album itself, Walkin’ Way, is named for the 6th and final track on the CD. “I wrote ‘Walkin’ Way’ days before leaving for Nashville. It’s about letting go of a part of myself that maybe wasn’t beneficial anymore. Walking away from self-doubt.” This kind of relatable subject matter is one of the most enticing aspects of Izzy’s songs. While she may not be specifically speaking about anything in some lyrics, someone who is listening can always find meaning and solace through her music. I’ve actually been to most of Izzy’s shows (did I mention she’s my best friend?) and still the songs I’ve heard time and time again find new meaning with me. “One of the songs on my album, ‘Fly With You,’ I wrote when I was sixteen and the meaning of that song has changed for me,” says Izzy. “It’s as if the words themselves have changed and have become about different things.”
The rest of her album is comprised of songs that were mostly written in Izzy’s first days as a musican. Growing up with a house full of instruments and with flute and piano music, Izzy was always musically inclined. She also sang with the Sun Valley Music Conservatory as well as the WRHS Jazz Choir. When she took guitar in middle school, that’s when things really clicked. She started writing songs and playing around with other musicians but did nothing seriously until coming back to Idaho after living in Portland for several years. When she got back, Izzy realized she really enjoyed writing songs and playing guitar and began writing the songs that would eventually end up on her album.
With an album under her belt, Izzy now plays gigs quite often, sometimes playing solo and sometimes playing with other musicans such as Cody Barnhill and Zach Herbert (both members of the Sheep Bridge Jumpers). She’s played at Ranch Fest, Solider Mountain Festival, Iconoclast, Sun Valley Brewery, The Crux in Boise, and many more, each time using her melodic voice and relatable lyrics to entice the audience into clapping, stomping their feet, and singing along to her homegrown, Idaho sound.
Facebook: Izzy Taylor
Website: www.izzytaylor.bandcamp.com
